On this day

May 15, 2012

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Historical Context for May 15, 2012

In 2012, the world population was approximately 7,201,202,485 people[†]

Notable Deaths

Carlos Fuentes

2012Carlos Fuentes, Mexican novelist and essayist (born 1928)[†]

Carlos Fuentes MacĂ­as was a Mexican novelist and essayist. Among his works are The Death of Artemio Cruz (1962), Aura (1962), Terra Nostra (1975), The Old Gringo (1985) and Christopher Unborn (1987). In his obituary, The New York Times described Fuentes as "one of the most admired writers in the Spanish-speaking world" and an important influence on the Latin American Boom, the "explosion of Latin American literature in the 1960s and '70s", while The Guardian called him "Mexico's most celebrated novelist". His many literary honors include the Miguel de Cervantes Prize as well as Mexico's highest award, the Belisario DomĂ­nguez Medal of Honor (1999). He was often named as a likely candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature, though he never won.

Arno Lustiger

2012Arno Lustiger, German historian and author (born 1924)[†]

Arno Lustiger was a German historian and author of Jewish origin. Lustiger made significant contributions to research and document the history of Jewish resistance under Nazi rule.

Zakaria Mohieddin

2012Zakaria Mohieddin, Egyptian soldier and politician, 33rd Prime Minister of Egypt (born 1918)[†]

Zakaria Mohieddin was an Egyptian military officer, politician, prime minister of Egypt and head of the first Intelligence body in Egypt, the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate.

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Headlines from May 15, 2012

The Tyrant as Tourist

By A. O. SCOTT

Sacha Baron Cohen’s newest creation, Admiral General Aladeen, is the star of the new comedy “The Dictator.”

Culture884 words

Swimming in a Sea of Stories

By Charles Isherwood

“Are You There, McPhee?,” the new John Guare play, is a dizzying comic fantasy about the terrors of childhood, the confusions of adulthood and much more.

Culture1085 words